In a brief fit of insanity, Watanuki almost, almost wondered what it was. And almost made the mistake of asking. Thankfully good sense got the better of him before he could open his mouth. It wasn't doing anything nefarious – though, simply being around Yuuko could possibly come under that category – and it wasn't messing up the shop (though he should have known it was only a matter of time) so he left it alone. This, of course, was a Grave Mistake.

Regret was something that Watanuki did not do often. For one thing, he was simply too busy, for another it was a waste of time. But in this, he thought, he would allow himself some regret.

After all, it had exploded in his face.

He chased after it, wincing every time that a pot or pan was knocked down, yelling at it when it went near the cabinet that held the dishes – if it broke one, no doubt the cost would be added to his debt, never mind that she was the one that set it loose.

As per usual, Yuuko was watching him chase it with a delighted expression. Mokona was eating a popsicle, next to her, cheering the green blob on through mouthfuls of sweet ice.

At least until the blob came and stole the popsicle.

Then Mokona attacked, running after it as fast as its stubby manju bun legs could move. Which was surprisingly fast. Finally, Mokona opened its mouth and started sucking in air, causing the green blob to stick to the floor, though the force of what Mokona was doing made it slide slowly toward Mokona, a thin trail of green goo left behind, as though it were laying on the floor, desperately clinging to it.

Which was when Watanuki pounced. He did not want to see the results when Mokona ate something that was even more hyper than itself. He clamped down on the blob with his hands only to screech when it slid right through his fingers.

The separated particles of the green blob thing flew into Mokona's mouth with a happy; "Gochisousama!"

Watanuki made a face, torn between disgust and relief.

Until he saw it. The small trails of goop, reconverging. It was small, only the size of his thumb whereas the original had been close to the size of his foot.

But it was the same thing.

"Yuuko! What is that thing!"

"Do you really want to know?"

It seemed disoriented, shaking its head as though it had just woken up. Then it stared at Mokona, turned its head (if it had a head, if it had eyes, really it was just a blob of green goop) and started to move.

Watanuki moved immediately, slamming the cup down over it.

"Ah well, I'm feeling nice today." Nice?! "It's a flubber. Thanks for trapping it Wata-kun!" Yuuko said cheerfully. She slipped a note card underneath the cup and took it away from Watanuki – who was still on the floor.

Watanuki sat up slowly, and looked around as if in a daze.

His kitchen, his holy place, his sanctuary, was in ruins. Things were spilled, knocked over. It was utter chaos.

And he had just cleaned it.

He let his head hit the leg of the table with a dull thunk as he passed out.

Just another day in the neighborhood.